Godolphin

With the January 17, 2006 take-over of Jumeirah Essex House in New York City, Jumeirah Group, the luxury hotel and hospitality management group based in Dubai formally expanded its scope of operations to three continents. The company was founded in 1997 with the aim to become a hospitality industry leader through establishing a world class portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts. To date, the Jumeirah portfolio includes luxury hotels and resorts in Dubai, two in London and it's first in the American market.

Jumeirah's core essence to Stay Different ™ promises guests experiences that are as unique and innovative as the brand itself. It recognises the distinctiveness of luxury travellers and the importance of personal experiences in their lives.

"Jumeirah is fully committed to being the industry leader in all our activities, through dedication to our customers and colleagues," said Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of Jumeirah Group. "We aspire to help redefine the benchmarks of the world's finest establishments, with hotels that offer a unique travel experience and are destinations in their own right."

Just over a decade old, the results of Jumeirah's commitment are impressive. The company has received numerous international travel and tourism awards and accolades from consumer, business and trade media. In 2007 alone, the World Travel Awards named Jumeirah as 'World's Leading Luxury Hotel Brand', also in 2007, Business Traveller Magazine Asia Pacific named Jumeirah as 'Best Business Hotel Brand in the Middle East and Africa', Business Traveller Magazine UK named Jumeirah 'Best Business Hotel Chain in the Middle East' and in 2008, Business Traveller Germany named the brand as 'Best Middle East Hotel Chain'. 2008 also saw the brand named by the Travel Weekly Globe Awards as 'Best Leisure Hotel Chain' and 'Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East'.

Perhaps the best known of Jumeirah's distinguished portfolio is the renowned Burj Al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel, which, in 2007 was named: 'Best Resort in the Middle East' in the Conde Nast Traveller Reader's Choice Awards as well as 'World's Leading Hotel', 'Leading Hotel in the Middle East', 'Leading Hotel in the UAE' and Leading Hotel in Dubai' in the World Travel Awards. Burj Al Arab was also named 'Best Hotel and Resort in Dubai' in the DestinAsian Reader's Choice Awards in 2007.

In addition to Burj Al Arab, the Jumeirah portfolio includes:

• Jumeirah Beach Hotel, an award-winning, spectacular five-star resort hotel, conference and banqueting destination that aspires to be the most outstanding in the world. Vibrant and luxurious, Jumeirah Beach Hotel is Dubai's premier lifestyle destination, integrating exciting and exhilarating experiences designed for couples, families and friends.
• Jumeirah Emirates Towers, a uniquely designed business hotel, shopping boulevard and office tower with the aim to be the world's finest corporate hotel. Soaring high above the central business and commercial district, Jumeirah Emirates Towers is a dramatic backdrop to Dubai's skyline and a visible statement of the region's growing corporate success.
• Madinat Jumeirah - The Arabian Resort of Dubai is a magnificent tribute to Dubai's rich heritage, with two grand boutique hotels, Arabian summer houses, a traditional souk, Talise Spa, the region's leading conference and banqueting center and the superlative Quay Healthclub.
• Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, a truly magical five star desert resort that transports you back in time to an ancient era. The resort is an architectural wonder reflecting a truly authentic Arabic heritage that has come to life in the middle of the desert.
• Jumeirah Carlton Tower, a landmark hotel acknowledged as one of London's best, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is noted for its fine dining, famous Peak Health Club and Spa and enviable location on Cadogan Place and Sloane Street – the Capital's most fashionable shopping areas.
• Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, an enchanting boutique hotel in the highly exclusive area of Knightsbridge, London. Set against the serene backdrop of a leafy London square, this chic, contemporary retreat offers sumptuous Mediterranean dining, a vibrant, welcoming bar, and a collection of superbly appointed bedrooms and suites.
• Jumeirah Essex House, a well-known icon in Manhattan and recognised throughout the world as a model of graceful elegance and art-deco sophistication. Ideally located in the heart of New York City, Jumeirah Essex House offers an unbeatable location that has lured dignitaries, celebrities and world leaders to this exclusive hotel for decades.

In 2001, Jumeirah expanded internationally with its management of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London's Knightsbridge. The landmark Carlton Tower, noted for its fine dining, unique Peak Health Club & Spa and ideal location, takes a prominent position among the city's five star, internationally recognised properties. Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel, its enchanting boutique-sized sister was completely redeveloped and refurbished in 2006 and offers a more intimate and just as warm and friendly a guest experience in the heart of Knightsbridge.

In New York, Jumeirah has recently completed a US$90 million renovation and refurbishment of Jumeirah Essex House that pays homage to its classic Art Deco heritage. The opening of 'South Gate', the hotel's brand new destination restaurant marked the end of the refurbishment that also included the hotels rooms and suites, lobby and health club & spa. Located on Central Park South with stunning views over the park, the historic Jumeirah Essex House first opened its doors in October 1931. Sharing its birthday with Rockefeller Centre's first building, at the time of its construction it was the tallest tower in New York and to this day remains one of the city's premier Art Deco masterpieces of the 1930s.

Jumeirah Group's activities are however not only restricted to hotel and resort management, the portfolio also includes Wild Wadi Water Park, regarded as one of the premier water parks outside of North America, The Emirates Academy, the region's only tertiary level academic institution specialising in the hospitality and tourism sectors, Jumeirah Branded Restaurants, the company's dedicated restaurant division, global spa brand Talise, Jumeirah Living, the Group's luxury brand of serviced residences offering effortless living in luxurious surroundings and Jumeirah Retail, Jumeirah Group's retail division with a portfolio of fourteen retail stores and a dedicated luxury retail website www.jumeirahcollection.com.

Building on this success, in 2004 Jumeirah Group became a member of Dubai Holding - a collection of leading Dubai-based businesses and projects - in line with a new phase of growth and development for the Group.

Jumeirah's ambitious expansion plans to grow its portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts worldwide to 57 by 2011 are well underway with projects currently under development in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Aqaba, Doha, Phuket, Shanghai, Bermuda, Mallorca and London.

For further information please contact:

Anne Bleeker – Director of Corporate Communications
Jumeirah Group
Building 3, Dubai Outsource Zone
Academic City Road
PO Box 21459 Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 4 364 7777
Fax: +971 4 301 6655
Email: pr@jumeirah.com
Visit: www.jumeirah.com